How a Bill Becomes a Law

When a bill is first introduced into the House of Representatives it is sent right to the committee. The members of the committee discuss the bill and then vote on it. If the committee approves the bill, it then goes to the full House of Representatives. All 435 members discuss, debate, and then vote on it. One more than half of the members have to approve it. If the bill is approved, it is then sent to the Senate.

In the Senate, like the House, the bill goes straight to the committee. The committee discusses it and then votes on it. If they approve of the bill, it is sent to eh full Senate. All 100 Senators discuss and vote on it, and have to have one more than half in order for it to pass. If the bill passes in both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President to be signed.

If the president signs the bill, then it becomes a law. If the president decides he doesn’t like it, he can veto it and send it back to Congress. The Congress then has the choice to override the veto. For this to happen, both the Senate and the House must have a two-thirds majority vote. If this happens then the bill becomes a law, but it either house fails to get that vote, then the President's veto stands.